back of a length, swatted in front of deep midwicket, they'll get back for two meaning Australia win by six wickets and go 1-0 up in the series
Australia vs England, 1st ODI at Melbourne, Jan 12 2014 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
1st ODI (D/N), Melbourne, January 12, 2014, England tour of Australia
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AUS
Full commentary
Okay, folks, that's yer lot for today. Brydon Coverdale's report should be your next stop and then Plays of the Day, why not? If you're in England, Sunday is your oyster; those in the Antipodes should slug a green grenade and then get to bed - remember you've got work tomorrow. To each and everyone in between, thanks for your comments, we'll be back again next week. Cheerio!
10.05pm: Another day, another win for Australia, the taste of defeat growing wearyingly familiar for England. Defending a middling target, they had to take early wickets but practically threw away the game along with several chances in the first 15 overs. Aaron Finch cruised to a century and that was plenty for Australia... and he is duly named Man of the Match.
"It's always nice to get a good start to the series, especially at your home ground," Finch says. "It was a good feeling. The way the wicket was, it swung around a bit early, a game of one-day cricket, you do need a bit of luck early, it was nice that it went our way and to contribute to a big partnership with Davey Warner. When you're batting with him it gives you confidence to give it a bit of a belt. He takes a lot of pressure off, the confidence he brings in from Test cricket, I've known him for about 15 years and it never gets boring."
England's captain, Alastair Cook: "I'm disappointed, we were probably about 20 short but we didn't bowl well enough. We wanted to keep it tight, hit the top of off, but we needed to take those chances. The batsmen wanted to get in - Finch and Warner did that - you can't just go off and running straight away but whenever we managed to build a partnership we had a setback. We've got to [manage the squad] this way, we've got a lot of one-day cricket to come and it was pleasing to see Chris Jordan come off. If things come together on the day we can be competitive at the Gabba."
Australia captain, Michael Clarke: "We were a bit sloppy in the field but did enough. I think the momentum has come from putting in the hard work, we played well in the UK and things are coming together. We've got a lot of guys who can bat and bowl, which makes my job a lot easier, in one-day cricket you need to do two things these days. We're just looking from series to series at the moment but we know the World Cup is coming along."
45.4
2
Bresnan to Maxwell, 2 runs
"Time to bring out the Undertaker," murmurs Matt
45.3
•
Bresnan to Maxwell, no run
goes full and wide as Maxwell backed away, inside the tramlines, well bowled
45.2
1
Bresnan to Bailey, 1 run
short and outside off, rolls his wrists on a pull in front of square
45.1
1
Bresnan to Maxwell, 1 run
slower ball, nudged into the leg side for one
end of over 459 runs
AUS: 266/4CRR: 5.91 • RRR: 0.80
George Bailey16 (17b 1x4)
Glenn Maxwell5 (9b)
Ben Stokes 10-0-64-1
Tim Bresnan 9-0-52-1
44.6
4
Stokes to Bailey, FOUR runs
scooped over the ring, Bailey driving aerially towards long-off, it bounces short but that's a boundary to take Australia within one hit of victory
44.5
1lb
Stokes to Maxwell, 1 leg bye
pitched up on leg stump, swings and misses, there's a leg bye for the taking... though Stokes makes a playful attempt to rugby tackle Bailey as he tried to field in his follow through
Here's Tim: "Doink the clown in the crowd, Big Show at the crease, anymore pro wrestling references anyone? I doubt even Stone Cold Steve Austin could save England now." They've been Bushwhacked again
44.4
•
Stokes to Maxwell, no run
fullish, tailing past leg stump and Maxwell hacks and misses again
44.3
1
Stokes to Bailey, 1 run
continues to pepper the middle of the pitch, flat-batted out to deep midwicket
44.2
1
Stokes to Maxwell, 1 run
dug in, pulled from outside off stump through backward square for one
44.2
1w
Stokes to Maxwell, 1 wide
slower ball, possibly out the back of the hand, dribbles down the leg side
44.1
1
Stokes to Bailey, 1 run
middle of the pitch, pulled through square leg for one more
end of over 445 runs
AUS: 257/4CRR: 5.84 • RRR: 2.16
George Bailey10 (14b)
Glenn Maxwell4 (6b)
Tim Bresnan 9-0-52-1
Ben Stokes 9-0-56-1
43.6
1
Bresnan to Bailey, 1 run
bangs the ball in short again, slightly wild hook and a bottom edge rolls short behind square
43.5
1
Bresnan to Maxwell, 1 run
angled in, worked to leg from in front of the stumps
43.4
2
Bresnan to Maxwell, 2 runs
touch short and wide and carved over gully this time, wide of third man for a couple
43.3
•
Bresnan to Maxwell, no run
digs this in over the top of the off stump, Maxwell rocks out of the way
43.2
•
Bresnan to Maxwell, no run
wide of the stumps, Maxwell has an airy yahoo and misses completely
43.1
1
Bresnan to Bailey, 1 run
drops short, paddled through backward square from the crease
end of over 435 runs
AUS: 252/4CRR: 5.86 • RRR: 2.57
George Bailey8 (12b)
Glenn Maxwell1 (2b)
Ben Stokes 9-0-56-1
Tim Bresnan 8-0-47-1
42.6
1
Stokes to Bailey, 1 run
pitched up outside off, driven slightly aerially, past Stokes' dive, Jordan also throws himself horizontal at mid-off and makes the stop
42.5
1
Stokes to Maxwell, 1 run
goes short again, pulled confidently down through square leg to the sweeper, Maxwell off the mark
42.4
1
Stokes to Bailey, 1 run
on the stumps and tucked to leg - smattering of applause for 250
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